“WOW, information overload” is how San Antonio farrier Matthew Moss described his 2014 International Hoof-Care Summit experience.

By all accounts, the 11th International Hoof-Care Summit was an over-the-top success. Attendance was at an all-time high, and the trade show was the biggest yet.

We all can recall the frustration of trying to figure out some problem connected with trimming and shoeing horses and the exhilaration and joy of being shown the solution by someone else. These have been described as WOW moments. It is like the heavens opening up and the knowledge spills forth.

For veteran and rookie farriers alike, this winter’s Summit insights came at a dizzying pace. There was a never-ending dissemination of knowledge that was free for the taking. Looking across the hall at the attendees in deep concentration took me back to my first exposure to all of this knowledge.

Because of the hectic pace, it was impossible for me to attend all of the lectures. This year, I am reporting on those I did see and relating some comments that attendees provided in the Summit surveys.

For those of you who could not make the Summit this year, here is a sampling of what you missed.

Hands-On Experiences

Lynne Myers, a Vettec clinician, demonstrates the use of Equi-Pak Soft, an instant pad material, to attendees at the Hands-On Footcare Clinic.

Before the Summit started, Vettec offered the opportunity for attendees to use any of their products on cadaver feet. Four stations were set up with…